Participate in the Study

A tree band in action! Photo: Michael Just

We seek participants to measure the growth of a red maple (Acer rubrum) trees in their yards. Large-scale data collection on tree growth is necessary to understand effects of warming and we need your help.

We’ll provide instructions and a plastic dendrometer band to measure the growth of your red maple

You’ll provide yearly tree growth data and some other details about your tree, like its location

Urban environments are stressful places for trees to live, which can degrade their health. The urban heat island effect, water stress, and greater susceptibility to pests may all play a role. As the climate warms, we may see reduced growth rates of trees and reduced carbon sequestration. On the other hand, a longer growing season may benefit trees and increase carbon capture.

Most scientific studies examine the effects of warming on young trees, but adult trees are important for carbon sequestration.

Urban areas are warmer than less-developed or natural areas due to the urban heat island effect

Recent work has used urban trees as a way of studying the effect of warming on adult trees

Studies have found reduced growth rates for urban trees due to warmer temperatures and higher pest densities

A Tree’s Life is a citizen science program that democratizes the study of tree growth in response to global change. Participants will not only advance scientific discoveries, but will also have the opportunity to advance their own scientific understanding of trees and global change.